Norwich — Samuel and Autumn Ford were hoping little Shepherd Good Ford would arrive before the end of 2015 to take advantage of an estimated $2,000 federal income tax break.

But they were just as pleased that Shepherd received the traditional gift basket from The William W. Backus Hospital birthing center for being the hospital's — and it turned out the region's — first baby of 2016. Shepherd was born at 12:59 a.m. Friday, weighing 7 pounds and 12 ounces and stretching to 20 inches long.

“We got a healthy baby and a basket, so I'm happy,” Samuel Ford said at noon Friday.

Perri Moosey, birth registrar and unit coordinator, delivered the basket of goodies to Shepherd and his parents at noon Friday. In addition to some blue toys, rattles and a blanket, the basket contained a $150 gift card to Babies R Us from the OBGyn office at Backus and a $175 Walmart gift card from the birthing center staff.

Shepherd will go home to a busy household in Preston. Samuel and Autumn, both 29, now have four young children — girls Redemption, 5, and Mercy, 3, and boys Ransom, 2, and now Shepherd. Their parents like the idea that the children will grow up together, as friends, they hope.

And looking ahead, dad speculated: “They will all leave together.”

Samuel Ford is a chief electronics technician in the U.S. Navy stationed at the Submarine Base in Groton, where he has spent most of his 11-year navy career. Autumn is busy enough as a stay-at-home mom, homeschooling Redemption in kindergarten.

Home life is at times loud, but with lots of fun, the parents said. The kids play with cars, play house and play dress up. Family outings in 2015 included trips to Six Flags amusement park, but Samuel Ford said that might not be possible for a while now.

“We like to do touristy things, even though we live here,” Autumn Ford said.

Roger and Patrice Diebel also live in Preston and took care of the older siblings when the Fords went to Backus Thursday. The children's paternal grandparents are Charles Ford of St. George, Utah, and Nancy Garcia of Tigard, Ore.

The older children were excited to meet their their new younger brother at the hospital Friday morning, their parents said.

“Ransom keeps asking if he's going to talk,” Autumn Ford said. “He says, 'Does he talk?'”

c.bessette@theday.com

Twitter: @Bessettetheday